New Years at BLT. Is it worth it?

Disney Dad Canada

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I'm thinking about planning our first BLT stay for Dec 30th to Jan 7th, 2012. Since I own there, I can book 11 months out, but I'm just wondering if the days in December are worth the extra points?

In theory it sounds like a cool idea to watch the New Years eve fireworks from the Top of the World, but it's a ton of extra points compared to adding the extra days in January instead.
 
Definitely! DH & I went last December 26- January 2 and we LOVED it! It was our honeymoon trip but we were able to watch the midnight fireworks from our room. We were one of the lucky rooms that were marked as lake view but we also had MK view and it was fantastic! I want to do it again, for sure.

You'll truly enjoy your trip. Have fun!
 
Will let you know in 3 weeks. MK View. :wizard::santa:
 

We were there last year with my sister's family. There were 9 of us in the 2 bdrm. There was plenty of room. We had a standard view, which had a nice view of the fireworks for the first couple of nights but then we had to switch to a lake view for the other nights. Actually we would have been perfectly happy with the standard view. But to answer you original question, yes the fireworks from the roof are incredible. We stayed from the 26th to the 1st. We found out that the MK does a full performance practice on the 30th just to make sure that everything is set. So we got to watch the entire thing 2 nights in a row. My BIL told us that BLT was the best place that he had ever stayed on property and the view and the fireworks on New Year's ruined fireworks displays for him.
Their kids are in college, so fatigue and crowds are not that big of a deal for them but for us, being able to be close to the room and just to go back downstairs after the fireworks was a huge plus.
Is it something we would do every year-no- but it was definitely worth it to us.
 
The only word of caution would be not to count on TOTW being your viewing location. First, it's possible it could be rented out (everything can be rented with at a certain price) and second, there is no guarantee that it will remain for the use of members.
 
The only word of caution would be not to count on TOTW being your viewing location. First, it's possible it could be rented out (everything can be rented with at a certain price) and second, there is no guarantee that it will remain for the use of members.

Has anyone heard of it being rented out? If Disney rented TOTW for New Years eve, I think there would be DVC rioting in the streets. Same goes for if it becomes NOT members only. That's one of the reasons I bought there in the first place.

Are the crowds super crazy on Dec 30th, and 31st? I assume it dies down a bit come January.
 
We were there last year. We had a LV room on NYE. I watched the fireworks from the footbridge between BLT and the Contemporary. Not that many people did this....... There were others, of course, but it was not packed.

I was amazed at the fireworks! WOW.

FYI for NYE during the day, we picked AK, figured it would be the least crowded, and it was bearable. We knew we did not want to be IN a park on NYE at night. (my special needs son gets tired and falls asleep by 9-10pm)

We did not go up to the lounge, it was a cash night for us.
 
we are going to there & have been working to close the
loopholes so it isn't over crowded.

that's a provoking statement, aimed at :stir: and/or attention seeker,
popcorn:: ,

no matter, i know for a fact it will be open for members staying
there on points. maybe someone regretting their choice?
oh well, we got better things to do.:laughing:

but i do think others would get along better if they respect the
rules. [ back in oct., a group was going to report back if they
were successful @ sneaking up. funny thing , they never did. ]

setting limits & redirecting seem like a requirement to obtain
compliance. no problem .
 
The only word of caution would be not to count on TOTW being your viewing location. First, it's possible it could be rented out (everything can be rented with at a certain price) and second, there is no guarantee that it will remain for the use of members.

Has anyone heard of it being rented out? If Disney rented TOTW for New Years eve, I think there would be DVC rioting in the streets. Same goes for if it becomes NOT members only. That's one of the reasons I bought there in the first place.

Are the crowds super crazy on Dec 30th, and 31st? I assume it dies down a bit come January.

we are going to there & have been working to close the
loopholes so it isn't over crowded.

that's a provoking statement, aimed at :stir: and/or attention seeker,
popcorn:: ,

no matter, i know for a fact it will be open for members staying
there on points. maybe someone regretting their choice?
oh well, we got better things to do.:laughing:

but i do think others would get along better if they respect the
rules. [ back in oct., a group was going to report back if they
were successful @ sneaking up. funny thing , they never did. ]

setting limits & redirecting seem like a requirement to obtain
compliance. no problem .

This could be a casualty of the tiered membership Jim Lewis was talking about. DVC could open this only to the members with the largest number of points or with the greatest number of successful referrals. Never bank on TOTWL staying DVC or BLT guests. Just like the Attic at BWV was originally for members and now if only for rentals.
 
yes, i can see that.

in our situation, that still would not be a problem.

but i 'll be willing to bet, those buying blt , even low points,
would @ least have a voucher/s so they too could experience
towl. [ if not else, as an encouragement to joining the club]


not to wander too far off, but awhile back, someone made a joke
about resales & used car status. [ something about pre-owned
isn't the same as brand new. ] however, the point might
help others to comphrend where the changes might be coming
from. resales are not paying the same as direct, & growing
into a large crowd. why should they expect a brand new [same
as owners buying direct? this makes good sense to address
those grabbing up re sales & then turning around renting.
i am not going stand by, when these renters are pushing us
from the best room. & pushing hard, is what i will continue to do.
{ on the member cruise, we interacted with some owners
that had no idea the "values" of their points. i believe this
group lack of knowledge is what some are using to misuse
the dvc system. to counter, collecting the data, and
submitting suggestions. because directly, it caused us
problems.


the only perk we are really expecting is the ability to reserve our
room @ the 11 mos. . as for the magic, we'll prefer to make
our own when doing our disney vacations. we are strong disney
supporters because they have earned our trust, & we think
"our disney" world is a national treasure.

some have asked for logic & explanation to observations. it based
on reading others & the trends they are creating, much like
doing a t~test from statistics.
 
Can you only access TOWL if you book on points? We are DVC and booked through member services but are paying cash. Does this mean 'no go?' thanks!:confused3

If not, it isn't a dealbreaker. #5 of DH's and my 'bucket list' is to watch the NYE fireworks from our balcony!! Can't wait
 
Can you only access TOWL if you book on points? We are DVC and booked through member services but are paying cash. Does this mean 'no go?' thanks!:confused3

If not, it isn't a dealbreaker. #5 of DH's and my 'bucket list' is to watch the NYE fireworks from our balcony!! Can't wait

I believe you can only go if you're room is booked with points.
 
Can you only access TOWL if you book on points? We are DVC and booked through member services but are paying cash. Does this mean 'no go?' thanks!:confused3

If not, it isn't a dealbreaker. #5 of DH's and my 'bucket list' is to watch the NYE fireworks from our balcony!! Can't wait

If you booked through MS, you are currently entitled to go up to the TOTWL. Points or cash.
 
is that a recent change? the reason i am asking is because
of reading others saying you have to be staying on points?

also , what is the requirement for taking up guests?

[ we have friends that are dvc members & some who are
not....so who can we invite & still be within the current rules?]
 
Are the crowds super crazy on Dec 30th, and 31st? I assume it dies down a bit come January.
ABSOLUTELY! We LOVE New Year's Eve though. We have done NYE at Epcot several times, and LOVE it. I haven't done MK for that event, but I'm sure it will be amazing. Also, the chance to view it from your villa or at least your resort would be pretty nice too.
 
we are going to there & have been working to close the
loopholes so it isn't over crowded.

that's a provoking statement, aimed at :stir: and/or attention seeker,
popcorn:: ,

no matter, i know for a fact it will be open for members staying
there on points. maybe someone regretting their choice?
oh well, we got better things to do.:laughing:

Not sure who this is directed to...the grammar is a little challenging.

If you're referring to my statement about it being available or being rented out, I have zero skin in the game so to speak. I'm just pointing out what PP has already elaborated on.

There was another "member" only facility that was eventually converted completely to reservation only (Attic). There is absolutely ZERO in the POS guaranteeing that the TOTW is for DVC, and if I recall, it specifically states the opposite, that it is not part of DVC, dues do not maintain it and access can be removed at anytime. Just like there is no guarantee that there will always be a "safari" at AKV with animals.

I think the loss of TOTW (or a change in the ability to use it - ie. becomes a full service restaurant like California Grill) is a good possibility, especially with a lot of reports that on many nights the place is pretty empty.
 
I think we are going to try to book New Years at BLT next year. It will be the only way I ever do New Year's at MK again. The crowds getting out of there are horrendous! One year it took us two hours to get from the train station to All Stars.
 
is that a recent change? the reason i am asking is because
of reading others saying you have to be staying on points?

also , what is the requirement for taking up guests?

[ we have friends that are dvc members & some who are
not....so who can we invite & still be within the current rules?]

Your friends are supposed to be staying with you on your reservation at BLT or on their own reservation through MS at BLT to go up to the lounge.

Rules are anyone with a MS reservation and the guests staying with them on the reservation can go up to the lounge. The CMs don't always stick to the rule and might allow others up there, but that is the rule.
 
Well I ended up booking a BLT studio lave view from Dec 31st, 2011 to Jan 11th, 2012.

Hopefully we'll be able to get to see the fireworks from somewhere in the hotel, whether it be TOTW or elsewhere.

Any other suggestions for fireworks viewing from BLT?
 





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